TMC’s Jitendra Tiwari Makes U-Turn After Babul Supriyo ‘Opposes’?

These developments come ahead of the West Bengal elections next year, wherein the TMC is pitched against the BJP.

Mamata Banerjee and Babul Supriyo.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Jitendra Tiwari, who had tendered his resignation on Thursday, 17 December, announced a reversal on Friday as he decided to stay in Mamata Banerjee's party.

According to an NDTV report, Tiwari on Friday called his resignation a "mistake", saying, "I never said anything about Didi (Mamata Banerjee) or joining BJP."

This sudden U-turn comes after Asansol BJP MP Babul Supriyo opposed Tiwari’s entry into the party. He posted a video on his Facebook account where he dismissed ‘rumours’ alleging that Tiwari had an ‘under-the-table’ dealing with Supriyo. He further added that he will “try his best to not let any Trinamool leader, who tormented and tortured his party workers in Asansol, enter the BJP.”

“What my top bosses decide is a different thing, but I will try my very best with all my might &amp; honesty to ensure that NO <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/tmc?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZW02Ck0Oq7Ihg-XxbxWCbXhOH-yJpOlhEbEfczjMqbuVZIeplR_3cxhiiaIc_JDkgJSwRVJjGkrLBH8NtEi--RJYtV_aZ2uDhrTYpUuYeV0iQ94CNynXuSznCSVqs9C9I-ee1xm6vAQoFRI_g2d15XDPTiBeFa7dKmDZpfRDR7l8A&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">TMC</a> leader, who tormented, tortured (both physically &amp; Mentally) my grassroots level BJP colleagues in Asansol, get an entry into the BJP!! We have the support of the people of Asansol with us, in my efforts to clean up Asansol in every manner possible &amp; the recent crack down on the coal/sand mafias of the region prove that I had really meant to do it with all my heart in my endeavour to do justice to Asansol &amp; give the youth there a clean peaceful life which we will make possible once we form our government in 202.[sic.]”

Babul Supriyo, BJP MP, Asansol

In July 2019, Tiwari and Supriyo had had a public spat. Tiwari had lodged a complaint against Supriyo after clashes broke out between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress workers in the area. Tiwari had accused Supriyo of provoking BJP ‘hooligans’ to disrupt a TMC blood donation camp that was organised in Asansol.

Tiwari’s Resignation and What He Said

Tiwari had earlier also resigned from the post of chairman, Board of Administrators, Asansol Municipal Corporation.

He had accused the state government of not letting the city receive funds to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore from the Centre under the ‘Smart City’ project because of political reasons.

PTI had quoted him saying, “I have resigned from the post of the chairman of the Board of Administrators of Asansol Municipal Corporation. If I am not allowed to work, what will I do with the post? So, I have resigned.”

Friday, Tiwari met senior Trinamool leader Arup Biswas and poll strategist Prashant Kishor at south Kolkata's Suruchi Sangha club after which he told the media:

“It was my mistake. There were some misunderstandings. Whatever I said was absolutely wrong on my part. I am told that Didi was hurt by my gesture. I cannot do anything that hurts Didi. I will personally meet Mamata Didi and seek her apology. I will continue to work for the Trinamool Congress.”

These developments come as senior TMC leader Suvendu Adhikari resigned from the party and as an MLA, and is expected to join the BJP in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his two-day visit to the state, ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections next year.